All season long, the Cleveland Cavaliers were the best team in the NBA. The one team they couldn’t solve, though, was the Indiana Pacers. Indiana won three of four regular-season meetings against Cleveland.
Four games into the second-round NBA playoffs series between the two teams, Indiana has also won three of four games. That has Cleveland seeking to stave off elimination.
On home court for Game 5 of the set on Tuesday, oddsmakers are expecting the Cavaliers to do just that. They’re setting Cleveland as solid 8-point home favorites in the NBA playoffs odds.
Let’s check the latest betting line on this game. Remember, odds are always subject to change.
 | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Pacers | +8 (-110) | +259 | O 228.5 (-110) |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | -8 (-110) | -318 | U 228.5 (-110) |
The Cavaliers hold a slight 10-9 straight up all-time edge over Indiana in NBA playoffs games between the two teams. That includes a 2-1 edge for Cleveland in series clashes.
Among the two NBA playoff games on tap on the Tuesday schedule, this is the one we are selecting to focus on in our NBA best bets.
Prior to making any bets on your NBA playoffs picks, you definitely should be checking out the latest NBA Vegas odds. You can also assess the most recent developments in NBA prop bets. You should also be taking advantage of these Vegas betting site bonuses to make the most of your NBA betting.
Straight up, Indiana is 8-4 in the last 12 games against Cleveland. On home court, the Cavaliers are 1-7 against the spread over the past eight games.
The Pacers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games. Indiana is 5-1 SU over the past six games. Indiana is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings with Cleveland. The Pacers are 14-3 SU in the past 17 games facing teams from the Eastern Conference. They’re also 9-2 SU when opposing Central Division clubs.
Cleveland is 13-7 SU over the past 20 games. The Cavaliers are 1-5 SU in the last six games facing Central Division opposition. Cleveland is 2-5 ATS over the past seven home games.
The over is 4-1 in the past five games between Cleveland and Indiana. As well, the over is 5-1 in the last six meetings between the two teams at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Nine of Indiana’s last 10 games have gone over. Overall, five of the last six games played by the Pacers hit on the over.
Four of Cleveland’s last five games went over. The over has also hit in each of the team’s last six home games and in seven of the past nine clashes with Eastern Conference teams.
Indiana is 19-18 SU as a betting underdog. The Pacers are 22-23 ATS as a road team. Cleveland is 65-17 SU as the favorite in the betting line. The Warriors are 23-21-1 ATS on home court.
Rebounding from a 126-104 loss in Game 3, the Pacers asserted home-court advantage with a vengeance in Game 4. Indiana opened a 41-point halftime lead over Cleveland. That equaled the NBA playoffs record for the largest halftime lead. Oddly enough, it was the Cavaliers who’d originally set the standard during the 2017 playoffs.
During that sensational half that saw the Pacers jump out to an 80-39 lead, Indiana shot 60% from the field, The Pacers went 12-for-18 from 3-point range and dished out 25 assists.
For the series, Tyrese Haliburton is scoring 18.6 points per game and averaging 3.5 rebounds for the Pacers. Aaron Nesmith is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Star guard Donovan Mitchell is scoring 24.0 points per game with 4.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists for the Cavaliers. However, his status for Game 5 remains up in the air.
Mitchell departed from Game 4 and didn’t play in the second half. He underwent an MRI on Monday that determined he has reaggravated a previous ankle injury. Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson says he has no idea whether Mitchell will be available for Game 5. His status will be a game-time decision.
Mitchell had recorded back-to-back 40-point performances in Games 2 and 3. If he can’t go, Cleveland will need Darius Garland and Evan Mobley to step up. Garland scored 21 points in Game 4. Mobley is averaging 12.9 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 54.1% over the last 10 games.
Clearly, Cleveland is is trouble. In NBA history, teams that take a 3-1 series lead are 95.2% likely to win the series.
This season, the Cavaliers are 26-23 ATS when a favorite of eight or more points. However, the Cavs are 1-4 ATS in the last five games facing the Pacers in that scenario. Cleveland will win this game outright. However, the Cavaliers won’t cover. Take the Pacers and the points in the NBA playoffs picks.
